Front Garden Ideas

Silvertabby

Technical issues aside, if you do decide to go for gravel then get large(r) stones.

Fine gravel looks like - and will be used as -  a kitty litter tray.

Andybooth23

twopenny said:

Ok so I had a similar situation and the soil underneath hasn't had any nutrients taken out by plants.
I removed the membrane, got as much gravel out as i could and left it for the rain to wash clean.
Dug it over a bit then planted. Gave a smattering of blood fish and bone.
The plants did really well.

If it's good membrane allow to dry and stiff brush it. Save it to go under wherever. 

Who knows what you may find next :-) 

Thanks for this! 

Can I check, did you remove the membrane that covers the clay also? Or just the initial one from the picture which then leads to the soil/gravel mix?

Andybooth23

The joys!!

twopenny

Get the lot up and prepare for turf.
If it's real grass then getting as much as you reasonably can, rake level and sow or lay turf. The toddler will thank you. Real grasswill grow up to the edge of the pavers and over the haunch no problem.

If plastic stuff you need to look up how to lay it correctly. Most of the stone will have to come out, some sort of underlay first.
But weeds grow in false turf so it will need regular maintenance and sweeping. The cheap stuff isn't great for baby skin but there are better kinds.


So mowing or maintenance.

Slinky

The plastic stuff is horrendous for the environment too. Plus it can get too hot to stand on in bare feet in the sunshine which wouldn't be good for kids playing.

Andybooth23

twopenny said:

Get the lot up and prepare for turf.
If it's real grass then getting as much as you reasonably can, rake level and sow or lay turf. The toddler will thank you. Real grasswill grow up to the edge of the pavers and over the haunch no problem.

If plastic stuff you need to look up how to lay it correctly. Most of the stone will have to come out, some sort of underlay first.
But weeds grow in false turf so it will need regular maintenance and sweeping. The cheap stuff isn't great for baby skin but there are better kinds.


So mowing or maintenance.

Absolutely going for real grass! Does the bottom membrane above the clay also need to go? Or just the pebble on top?

twopenny

The bottom membrane on clay will make a bog garden if you want an avant-garde front 
So best it's up. If you can loosen the clay just a bit, some pebbles or whats to hand, soil and turf/seed.
Seed takes ages and summer not the best time, it will need tender loving care and 6-8weeks before walking on.
 So if you can go turf I would. It's not a big area. If it's for sitting and walking on go for the lower grade. You can be on it in two or three weeks from laying. 
There are unconventional ways to convert that to fine later. But to my cost I made 2 small perfect lawns and the grass was so dense it was hard to mow.
So one step at a time.
.

Andybooth23

Next stupid question incoming!

Looks like a mains cable under the last membrane, shouldn't be any issue with laying soil and turf over?

FreeBear

Power cables and pipes should be at least 750mm below the surface, but this doesn't always happen (My incoming mains is less than 300 below ground at one point). If you have some thick slabs, lay them over the top of the cable, and then a layer of soil for the grass to root in.

Andybooth23

FreeBear said:

Power cables and pipes should be at least 750mm below the surface, but this doesn't always happen (My incoming mains is less than 300 below ground at one point). If you have some thick slabs, lay them over the top of the cable, and then a layer of soil for the grass to root in.

Excellent. It's actually turned out to be a huge root (to what I don't know, possibly the hedge) which actually goes under the house too for a few strands